Hydraulic clamshell bucket



March 7,' 1950 R. w. wAlTE .E1-Al` 2,499,433

HYDRAULIC CLAMSHELL BUCKET Filed June 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V ENTORJ /Pober W Waite a Francis l?. Hampton man ATTORNEYS March 7, 1950 R.w. wAlTE ET AL 2,499,433

HYDRAULIC CLAMSHELL BUCKET Filed June 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2INVENTORS /Pobert Waite a Franc/'s A? Ham/:fon

Arorneys Patente'drMar. 7, 1.950

eArENir *fHRAULIC GLAMSHEEDBUCK'ET :Application ."Junn, 1948,1Serial15105355824 Cl. :37m-185') Our invention :re1aites'-.to hydraulic f.c1amshell buckets wherein "a hydraulic cylinder isl operatively '-ccmnectedIto-afpairci bucket'sectionsifor actuating thesameftoopen and"closed:positi'm-is.`

.alien thehun-'terminate 'cios-mg, yWinamax-Jy i ilicient quantity ofmaterial' is picked nu y f, he'buckiet.'"Thefirst=deeribed*formf"has.the Objection thatwhenusdunder water;,'itdoes-not necessarily stay'entirel'yopen;'whereby'airr inslifl'f cient'quantity ofmaterialis'nicked up.

*With vthe foregoing in YvieW-,v-'it-issnl object of our inven'tcn'toprovide yan improved ifiydraiilically-actuated clam lshell lbucketwhereby -the bucket is -"both openedH `and yclosed 'by hydraulicpressure A further object is toprovide' such an improved`hydraulcally=operated 4"ciarn 'shell 'bucket "which includesgahydratilic'cylinder and piston, said pistonbeing` operatively`connected-itc the vbucket sections,v Ymeans'operatively connecting thecylinder to the ini-'ckerv `sections and means "fo-rf actuatingthecylinderandpiston verticaily in opposite Y'Clirerztions'simulta-nermsl'y, lwhereby to provide a quick opening and' closing -ofrvthe `bucket sections. 1

.Other cbjectsemd advantagesreside in the-.particular structure "of thevinvention, combination and arrangement o'f the several parts thereof,and will be: readily understood'by' those-ski1ied `in the art uponV`referencetcwtlfie attached drawing .in connection hWitl'i the'following specication, wherein ther invent-ion.' lis' f' shown,vldescribed :and claimed.

Inv the drawing:

vE'Igure 1 atransversevertical-sectional view 1 'througi'r a bucketaccording' tothe 4iifrvention,fthe

iastementionedfform, it necessitatesfanup- 'ligure' `is :an enlargedhorizontal nsectional AView'take-n.substantiaiiy on the plane ofthevline -of Figure '2.

`Referring; specicaily-.to the drawing, yWi'ierein like referencecharacters have been used throughouttheseveral `views tov designate likeparts, I0 'designates'a cable havingahook i I carried-bythe bgki'tthereof, which lis detachably i secured to va platefiZdependingf-therefrom. 'Theplate 12 has journaied therein :transverselythereof a 'stub :shaft t3., the opposite ends for-:which have pivotedthereto depending'fhangers `v11i, there Ebeing two hangers f 2M'rplivcrtedy to eachendofjthe stub fshaft lI'3., The hangers M.extend2downwardlyfand their' llowersendsarepiyotedfbyanywsnitablapvot:pins tte ears I5.' fixed.to-.substantially"identicalbucket :sections :H of theciarnsheiibucket., ""Each bucket 11 T includes; a: side v@Wall terminating#an up." wardly'edirected ear I8 Whenrthe bucket is fin' the :closedorEigurejZposition. 'Thexears 1180i one :bucket-.section aredisposedlaterally inwardly .of -thexcorresponding-earsift of the .other section,.asisreadilyseen in Figure 4. :Theoutermost'ears 1.8' ane'frxed -toy yabucketirshaftfportion 'lwhich is :solid-and spans the ears. .Theinnermostears tIIB :are eachxedi'to tubuiarsieenes #SN-Which extendinwardlyalong Athe :solid ,shaft:.:l&, but which .terminate `inlaterally-,spaced relationxto each other. Thus, the; solid `shaft 'IISandsleeves. I9 comprise .ariane-lietfshaatt:whereby` the.fbncketzsections ["1 r` `are 'hngedlyfconnected:togetherxfor swingingmovement/to and fromthe; Figure. 1 .and Figure v2. posiationgwherebythebucket- .is openedand clos-ed.

',Theplate lirxaioresaid hasixed thereto beicw `they stub shat13,;-za1g11de membern which in the embodiment iliustrated -cumprises'aninverted .cup-shapedmember: havingy cylindrical yside. walls. 1A:hydraulic rcylinderZil .is -vertically yslidable `rela,- tivetotheguidemember:2l)l inwardly thereof. A hydraulic piston 22 fis. verticallyslidable inwardly ofthe':cylindenltfandzhas-.a vpiston rod 23 dependingtherefromend :extending axially "outwardlygand. downwardly: relativetoxt'he `cylinder :2L 'The cylinder `12:1 is-provded-with atL least one.depending `rod member-24 Which extends :downwardly therefromptowardithebucket shaft. The lower endrof therod member. .'24, .isf vformed'with'.a .ringf''whichzis jomnaled-onone 'of the asleeves |59.Thusythef'cylnder 2i is pivotal'ly :connected Vto the zizbucket. shaftin verticallyspacedv relation thereto.

The. :lower :end of' the vpstorrrcd -23 is. provided with a 'yoke 2li;Ythe legs of Awhich :arespanned by: apivutxpin 21. vA pair :of.oppositely 4laterally :outwardly-directed. vlazypin 21. The outer endsof the levers 28 are pivoted by any suitable means 30 to the free endsof a pair of bell crank levers 29 and 29'. The inner end of the bellcrank lever 29 is xedly connected to the solid shaft I9, while the innerends of the bell crank 29 are fixedly connected to at least one of thesleeves i9'. In the embodiment shown, the bell crank lever 29 comprisesa pair of arms whereby each arm is xedly connected to one of the sleeves|9.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 5, the cylinder 2| is provided with a pairof inlet ports 3B and 3|, the port 3| opening into the cylinder adjacentthe lower end thereof and the port `3%) opening thereinto adjacent theupper end thereof. The ports 30 and 3| are connected to any suitablesource of hydraulic fluid under pressure, not shown, by tubular andiexible conduits 32 which are connected to the cylinder by any suitablettings 33. It is to be understood in this connection that suitable valvemeans, not shown, are intended to be located adjacent the operatorsstation for the bucket, whereby he may selectively admit fluid underpressure to either end of the cylinder 2|.

In the operation of the device, and with particular reference to Figures1 and 2, it is apparent that with the parts in the Figure 1 position,when hydraulic fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 2|through the port 3| adjacent the upper end of the cylinder, the fluidwill simultaneously move the cylinder 2i upwardly while the piston 22 isloaded for movement downwardly. The upward movement of the cylinder 2|on account of the connection 24 between the same and the bucket shaftelevates the bucket shaft, whereby the bucket sections H tend to beclosed by swinging of such sections on the pivot pins 'I5 of the hangersI4. At the same time, the downward thrust on the piston 22 in thecylinder 2| loads the lazy-tong levers 28 and bell cranks 29 and 29, sothat the solid bucket shaft portion I9 tends to be rotated in onedirection, while the tubular sleeves I9 tend to be rotated in theopposite direction, whereby positive torque loads in closing directionsare imposed on the sleeves I9 and shaft portion |9 of the bucketsections as the cylinder 2| moves upwardly. At first, the piston isunable to move, as such movement would result in upward pivotal movementof the pins l5 which is prevented by the hangers I4. However, the linearthrust on the piston is translated into oppositely-directed torques onsleeves I9 and shaft i9 which tends to assist the cylinder to close the|bucket as the bucket shaft I9, I9" is moved upwardly. Also, as thebucket sections approach the closed position, Figure 2, the pivots i5pass a dead center, after which the piston moves downwardly slightly asthe cylinder completes its upward stroke, whereby the final closing ofthe bucket sections is materially assisted by the slight pistonmovement. On the contrary, when the parts are in the Figure 2 positionand the bucket sections are closed, fluid is admitted to the cylinder 2lthrough the lower port 30. This action simultaneously moves the cylinder2| downwardly as the piston 22 is loaded for upward movement. Suchupward load on the piston imparts reverse torques to the bucket shaftportions, whereby, to assist the movement of the bucket sections |'l toan open position which is inicident to the simultaneous downwardmovement of the cylinder 2|. As in the closing of the bucket sections,movement of the piston occurs only -near the end of the stroke after thepivots l5 have passed a dead center. However, such slight movement ofthe piston insures a full opening of the bucket sections, and thusmaterially assists the downward movement of the cylinder, which istransmitted to the bucket shaft by the depending rods 24 aforesaid.Thus, in the movement to the open position, a positive opening of thebucket is provided.

This positive action of the bucket in the opening and closing movementsis highly desirable, as aforesaid, when operating under water, as indredging. Likewise, we prefer the use of hydraulic fluid rather than agaseous medium such as steam, because of the fact that condensation ofthe steam prevents it from being effectively used under water. Thehydraulic fluid used by us is substantially unaffected by watertemperatures, whereby it may be used in many places where steam cannotbe used.

While we have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferredembodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that the same issusceptible'of other forms and expressions. Consequently, we do notlimit ourselves to the precise structures shown and describedhereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim;

1. In a hydraulic clam shell bucket includin a pair of bucket sectionshinged to a bucket shaft for swinging movement in opposite directions toopen and close said bucket, and a hanger pivotally connecting eachbucket section to a hoist, the improvement comprising `a verticaltubular guide depending from said hanger above said sections, vahydraulic` cylinder slidably mounted in said guide for vertical slidingmovement therein, means rigid with said cylinder for pivotallyconnecting said cylinder to said bucket shaft, a pair of bell cranks,there being a bell crank fixed to each of said 4bucket sections, apiston in said cylinder, a piston rod depending from said cylinder andextending axially outwardly thereof, a lazy tongs connecting said rod tosaid bell cranks, and means for selectively admitting hydraulic fluidunder pressure to opposite ends of said cylinder, whereby to actuatesaid cylinder and piston relatively in opposite directions for rapidopening and closing of said bucket.

2. A hydraulic clam shell bucket including a pair of bucket sectionshinged to a bucket shaft for swinging movement in opposite directions toopen and close said bucket, and a hanger pivotally connecting eachbucket section to a hoist, the improvement comprising a vertical guidedepending from said hanger above said sections, a hydraulic cylinderslidably mounted in said guide for vertical sliding movement therein,means rigid with said cylinder for pivotally connecting said cylinder tosaid bucket shaft, a pair of bell cranks, there being a bell crank xedto each of said bucket sections, a piston in said cylinder, a piston roddepending from said cylinder and extending axially outwardly thereof, alazy tongs connecting said rod to said bell cranks, and means forselectively admitting hydraulic fluid under pressure to opposite ends ofsaid cylinder, whereby to actuate said cylinder and piston relatively inopposite directions for rapid opening and closing of said bucket.

3. A .hydraulic clam shell bucket including a pair of bucket sectionshinged to a bucket shaft for swinging movement in opposite directions toopen and close said bucket, and a hanger pivotally connecting eachbucket section to a hoist, the improvement comprising a vertical `guidedepending from said hanger above said section, a hydraulic cylinderslidably mounted in said guide for vertical sliding movement therein,means rigid with said cylinder for pivotally connecting said cylinder tosaid bucket shaft, said bucket shaft comprising a solid shaft fixed toone bucket section and a pair of tubular sleeves fixed to the otherbucket section and journaled on opposite end portions of said solidshaft, a pair of bell cranks, there being a laterally-directed bellcrank fixed to said solid shaft, a second andlaterally-oppositely-directed bell crank xed to at least one of saidsleeves, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod depending from saidcylinder and extending axially outwardly thereof, a lazy tongsconnecting said rod to said bell cranks, and means for selectivelyadmitting hy draulic uid under pressure to opposite ends of saidcylinder, whereby to actuate said cylinder and piston, relatively inopposite directions for rapid opening and closing of said bucket.

4. In a hydraulic clam shell bucket including a pair of bucket sections,means providing a hinge hingedly connecting said sections together forsimultaneous movement in opposite directions to open and close saidbucket, and a hanger pivotally connecting each bucket section to ahoist, the improvement comprising a verticallydisposed hydrauliccylinder, means pivotally connecting said cylinder to said hinge inverticallyspaced relation thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a pistonrod xed to said piston and depending from said cylinder, a pair of bellcranks, there being a bell crank xed to each bucket section, meanspivotally connecting said piston rod to said bell "cranks, meansmounting said cylinder on said hanger for vertical movement relativethereto, and means for actuating saidv cylinder and piston relatively inopposite vertical directions for rapid opening and closing of saidbuckets.

No references cited.

